Match book dispenser



Feb. 17, 1959 Y J. G. FOUTS 2,873,882

MATCH BOOK DISPENSER Filed May 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Jared 6. Fouts.

A TTORNE V5.

Feb. 17, 1959 J. G. FouTs MATCH BOOK DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1957 INVENTOR. Jared 6. Fours.

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t d tate Pat n 2,873,882 MATCH BOOK DISPENSER Jared G. Fonts, Wichita, Kans.

Application May 8, 1957, Serial No. 657,975 2 Claims. or. 221-116) This invention relates to a dispenser for book matches or the like, and more particularly to a device for dispensing one book of matches at a time.

Generally matches are placed on a counter for customers in restaurants and other eating places to help themselves and in such instances a customer is likely to take several books or even a handful of matches at one time thuscreating a substantial waste as far as advertising purposes are concerned. It is well known that book matches are an advertising medium and eating places and other places of business have book matches in their counters and on their counters for their customers to help themselves and thus advertise the establishment.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a dispenser of book matches wherein one book of matches will be dispensed from the dispenser or container at one time; to provide a container having a partition where parallel vertical rows of book matches,will be housed for dispensing from the lower portion of the container; to provide a-base for the dispenser; to provide a pivoted dispenser mechanism on the base and underneath the container housing; to provide rods or arms extending upwardly through slots in the base of the container proper for engaging a book of matches in the containerand moving the same from the container to the forward portion of the base where it may be picked up by the user; to provide a lever arm on the pivoted member extending through a slot in the forward portion of the base for movement laterally so that the pins will contact the books of matches alternatively; to provide a cover plate for the container whereby the book matches may be inserted therein; to provide advertising medium on the front side of the container; and to provide a dispenser of neat appearance and economical to manufacture.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the book match dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the dispenser arms on the pivoted dispensing mechanism for movement of the book matches fromthe container.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in a reversed position with the bottom plate removed, particularly illustrating the dispensing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on a line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective end view of the dispenser with part of the lid broken away to illustratethe partition in the container.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a dispenser for book matches embodying the features of my invention comprising, a base 2 of substantially rectangular shape and the forward portion thereof being slightly higher than the rear portion as indicated at 3 (Fig. 1). The base has a removable bottom 4 and legs or supports 5 at each corner thereof. The bottom plate snaps in place in the base forming a compartment 6 in the base 2. The container 7 for the matches is slightly larger at the base as indicated at 8 and tapers slightly upwardly as indicated at 9 (Fig. 5). A cover 10 is hinged to the back thereof as indicated at 11. A keyhole 12 is provided in the back 13 near the top for hanging the dispenser on a wall or the-like if desired.

The back 13 is glued or otherwise suitably secured to the sides 15 and 16 and is provided with a plurality of stifieners 17 as best illustrated in Fig. 5. The back is inset at the base as indicated at 18 and the lower edge thereof is provided with vertical sockets 19 and 20 for a purpose later described.

A partition 21 is provided in the housing or container 7 so that two parallel columns of book matches extend vertically therein.

The base 2 is provided with a forwardly extending top portion 22 forming a platform for supporting the book matches 23 and 24 as they are moved from the container as illustrated in Fig. 1. The front 25 of the container is cut away at the lower portion thereof to provide a space 26 through which the book matches are moved and is parallel with the back wall 13; both are extending in a right angle from the platform 22 whereby said front and back walls will slope slightly backward with respect to their upperends thus preventing the sliding out of matches through space 26 when not desired.

27 designates a book match dispensing member of substantially triangular-shape pivotally attached to the underneath side of the top 22 of the base 2 by a bolt or the like 28 and secured to the underneath side of the member 27 by said bolt is one end of an arm 29 which extends forwardly between depending lugs 30 and 31 on the apex end of the dispensing member 27. The front side 32 of the base is curved outwardly as indicated at 33 and has a horizontally extending slot 34 through which the arm 29 extends and is provided with a knob 35 which may be grasped by the operator to-;rotate the dispensing member 27 on the bolt 28. The top 22 of the base 2 is provided with spaced laterally curved longitudinal slots 36 and 37. Pins 38 and 39 are secured in the respective corners 40 and 41 of the triangular-shaped dispensing member 27 and extend upwardly through the slots 36 and 37 as best illustrated in Fig. 2 for engaging the rear edges 42 of the book matches also as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Spaced brackets 43 and 44 are provided on the front 25 of the container for retaining a calendar or the like 45 as desired. Spaced thereabove are stuck out'portions 46 and 47 forming hook members 48 and 49 spaced from the front wall 25 for retaining one book of matches or other item so that it maybe readily available to the retained therein side by side.

Operation of a device constructed and assembled as described is as follows:

The lid 10 may be opened so that book matches are placed in the respective compartments 50 and 51 so that the lowermost book of matches in each compartment will rest upon the top 22 of the base 2. In order for the matches to be dispensed the arm 29 of the dispensing member is moved around to the right or left. It is shown moved to the left in Fig. 2 so that the pin 33 is recessed in the socket 20 of the back 13. In that position the book of matches will lie' flat on the top 22 of the base and by moving the arm 29 to the right the pin 38 will move the book of matches 23 forwardly through the space 26 to the platform of the base where it may be picked up by the user.

At the same time the arm is rotated to the right the pin 39 will move to the rear through the slot 37 and Patented F eb.- 17, 1959 be recessed in the socket 19 so that the book matches 24 will move downwardly to engage the top 22 of the base ready for movement forward upon operation of the lever or arm 29 to the'left as shown in Fig. 2. 7

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved dispenser for book matches wherein only one book will be dispensed at a time from the container for the matches thus conserving the matches and eliminating waste.-

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for book matches comprising, a base having a top and bottom providing a compartment therebetween, a housing on said base having a central vertical partition for containing parallel columns of said book matches and a back wall having outwardly extending vertical sockets adjacent the base, the base extending forwardly of said housing and the front side of the housing being cut away forming openings through which the matches are dispensed, a dispensing member in said compartment rotatably attached to the base, an arm on the dispensing member extending forwardly of the base for rotating said dispensing member, said top of the base having spaced curved slots transversely thereof extending into said vertical sockets, pins on said dispensing member extending through said slots for engaging said book matches for moving the same forwardly through the openings in the front of the housing.

2. A dispenser for book matches comprising, a base having a top and bottom providing a compartment there- 4 between, the front side of the base having a horizontally extending slot therein, a housing on said base having a central vertical partition for containing parallel columns of said book matches and a back wall having outwardly 5 extending vertical sockets adjacent the base, the base extending forwardly of said housing forming a platform and the front side of the housing being cut away forming openings through which the matches are dispensed to said platform, a substantially triangular-shaped dis- 10 pensing member rotatably attached to the underneath side of the top of said base, an arm on the dispensing member extending forwardly of the base and through the I slot in the front thereof for rotating said dispensing member, said top of the base having spaced curved slots 10 transversely thereof extending into said vertical sockets,

and means on the dispensing member extending through said slots for engaging said book matches'for moving the same forwardly through the openings in the front of the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

